Weyward by Emilia Hart

★★★☆☆

Weyward by Emilia Hart is a fluffy bit of fiction that’s worthy of a place in your beach bag. It weaves the lives of three women over five centuries into one over-arching narrative about the grit of womanhood and the stirring power of Mother Nature​.

We start with Kate, who bolts for Weyward Cottage to escape her abusive husband. This cozy, crumbly Cumbrian place comes courtesy of her Great Aunt Violet, a lady she barely remembers​. Now, Violet is an interesting bird, more keen on bugs and climbing trees than being the dainty lady society wanted her to be​.

The irony is that while Kate barely remembers Violet, us readers will come away barely remembering Kate. While Violet's as vivid as a summer's day, Kate and Altha are more like morning fog. Here at the Brunch Book Club, we wished Hart had colored them in a bit more, given them the same depth as she did with Violet.

And definitely don’t read it too deeply. If you start picking it apart, looking for hidden meanings and subtle themes (like we did), the whole thing just falls apart. It's not a fault, mind you. More like a reminder that this is a book for a bit of fun, not a deep dive.

In the end, Weyward is a decent romp that's easy on the brain. It might've been a real gem if a seasoned writer had had a go at it, but for a fresh face like Hart, it's not half bad. There's a spark in there that says Hart might have a great book in her yet. So grab a copy of Weyward and just enjoy the ride.

Review by Linda